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Anjana and Pavananjay
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there with overflowing enthusiasm to see Anjana; but he returned home full of hatred and contempt for her.
His agitation did not cease; and he did not regain his peace of mind. A volcano seemed to be erupting in his mind. What had he been dreaming of ? and what had come about ? All his dreams had become shattered. He could not get a wink of sleep; and his mind became a boiling cauldron of agonizing thoughts. Countless conflicting and confounding thoughts rose in his mind like impetuous waves and brought about a stupefying crash. On one hand, his father had given his consent and the preparations for the marriage were going on in full swing; but on the other hand, in his mind there had arisen bitter contempt and abhorrence for Anjana. There seemed to be no way out of this conflict. His mind was being consumed by these conflicting thoughts that rose like fiery flames.
When, even after making hundreds of attempts, he could not find any solution to his problem, willy nilly, he remembered his friend, Prahasit. Prahasit also was eager to meet his friend. He could not get a wink of sleep that night. He kept tossing on his bed fearing that his dear friend, Pavananjay might commit some enormity in his half-mad mental state; and he was anxiously waiting for the day to dawn. Again and again, the thought rose in his mind that somehow or the other, he must eradicate from his friend's mind the wrong notion that he had developed regarding Anjana.
The day dawned. Prahasit straight went to the residence of his friend, Pavananjay. Pavananjay also was waiting for him. As soon as he saw Prahasit, he rose to his feet, came forward a few steps and embraced him affectionately. Then, the two friends sat on the cot.
"Dear friend! Why should I marry Anjana now ?” “Dear Prince. Think of it a little calmly”.
“Prahasit! My mind is deeply agitated by this affair. Even now those words are piercing me like poisoned arrows; and my heartache is inexpressible !”
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